Friday, June 3, 2011

My last post about cities with billionaires reminded me that I haven’t traveled in my blog to Hong Kong, China yet! Hong Kong is often referred to as “East Meets West” for when it used to be a British colony, it had been heavily influenced by European culture. The city is one of the world’s leading international financial centers and even has a different political system than the rest of the country. The people of Hong Kong are strict believers of Feng Shui and are well known for their unique cuisine that represents East and West. Let’s check out some cool places in Hong Kong, shall we?

Victoria Peak is a mountain also known as Mount Austin and just referred to locals as The Peak. From the top of the mountain, you can see the spectacular view of the whole city skyline as well as the famous Victoria Harbor. You can get up and down from it via the Peak Tram, which climbs up around 1,200 feet of steep hills that will make you feel like the skyscrapers are leaning to the side! Up top, you’ll love visiting the Peak Tower, which is one of the most interesting venues in the whole city. The Peak Tower is considered one of the most stylish architectural icons in Hong Kong and features the city’s highest 360o viewing platform called the Sky Terrace.

As I’ve mentioned before, Victoria Harbor is famously known in Hong Kong. It is one of the city’s most treasured assets and is admired by visitors from all over the world. The harbor also hosts “A Symphony of Lights” which features more than 40 skyscrapers in a stunning light show extravaganza. To enjoy this show, you can hop onboard a harbor cruise, the ferry, or a traditional Chinese “junk” (not really just a piece of junk but that’s what it’s called…I was confused when I read this at first hahaha).

The last but certainly not least tourist attraction that will complete your trip to Hong Kong is the Giant Buddha called “Tian Tan Buddha.” This bronze statue of a whopping 112 feet was completed in 1993. It now sits on the Ngong Ping plateau where visitors can climb 268 stairs to see it up close (as if it wasn’t big enough already). The statue attracts millions of visitors from all over Asia and some tourists come specifically for the statue.

There you have it: Hong Kong’s spectacular main attractions. It’s truly a place you’d want to visit for its unique culture, cuisine and of course, the people.